Ignition point dust shield



Nov. 9, 1954 I D. BAKKE 2,694,117

IGNITION POINT DUST SHIELD Filed Nov. 3, 1951 l in/eflr Jaarence E flak/(e United States Patent IGNITION POINT DUST SHIELD Laurence D. Baklre, Plymouth, Mich., assignor to Continental Motors Corporation, Detroit and Muskegon, Mich a corporation of Virginia Application November 3, 1951, Serial No. 254,734

1 Claim. (Cl. 200-19) The present invention relates to a breaker mechanism for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to a novel and simple manner by which to shield the breaker points from dust and other foreign particles, whereby to prevent such dust and foreign particles from entering between the points and shorting out the ignition system or preventing the points from closing.

Even though the breaker mechanism is for the most part enclosed in a housing, foreign matter still finds its way between the points resulting in failure of the ignition system. Such foreign matter as is bound to exist within these enclosed breaker assemblies is what causes most of the trouble, and it has been found to be impossible to prevent such foreign matter from settling between the points except by adequately shielding same.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the difficulties aforesaid by providing a closely fitting shield around the breaker points, preferably employing a tight fitting rubber gauntlet or tubular hose section telescoped over these breaker points.

For a more detailed understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention in which like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a breaker mechanism incorporating a rubber shield about the breaker points.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section of the breaker point assembly, and

Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of the rubber gauntlet or shield which is fitted over the breaker points.

A conventional ignition system for an internal com- 2,694,117 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 bustion engine employs a breaker mechanism 10 having an actuator, generally a can". 11 to move an arm 12 carrying a breaker point 13. The breaker point is normally held into contact with a fixed breaker point 14 and is intermittently moved out of contact to break the circuit. This make and break is what conventionally produces the spark and the presence of any foreign matter between these points will short the system or prevent contact of the points 13 and 14.

To prevent any dust or other foreign matter from settling in these points, there has been provided a shield comprising a flexible rubber gauntlet 15 which is closely fitted and telescopically assembled about the breaker points. It is pointed out that this gauntlet preferably comprises a short section of a rubber hose (see Fig. 3) and the inside wall of the gauntlet closely fits the outside periphery of the breaker points.

The gauntlet is sufiiciently flexible and axially compressible to allow for positive closing of the breaker points.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A breaker mechanism for an ignition system comprising a make and break mechanism having a fixed breaker point and a movable breakerpoint, said points disposed coaxially and relatively movable axially into and out of abutting contact end to end with each other, and a single one-piece rubber gauntlet of substantially tubular construction closely telescopically fitted around said points, a close fit being maintained between the outside diameter of the points and the inside diameter of the gauntlet to shield the points from foreign matter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,034,683 Olandt Mar. 17, 1936 2,619,555 Westfall Nov. 25, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 224,732 Switzerland Mar. 1, I943 

